Pierce Law Webster Scholars to be sworn in at New Hampshire Supreme Court May 16

Thirteen members of Franklin Pierce Law Center's class of 2008 have already passed the New Hampshire bar exam and will be sworn in at the New Hampshire Supreme Court on Friday, May 16 at 9:30 AM. They all participated in Pierce Law's first-in-the-nation program offering law students a two-year method of bar examination rather than taking the traditional two-day bar exam following graduation.

"This is a wonderful time," said Professor John B. Garvey, who directs the Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program. "When I was asked to undertake this journey in 2005, it was just a great idea. However, thanks to a lot of help from judges, lawyers, stenographers, lay people, Pierce Law administration, faculty and staff, it is now a great program. Many schools around the nation are already showing a strong interest in what we are doing, and the high quality of these graduating Webster Scholars demonstrates that law students can be mentored to be client-ready."

The 13 graduating Webster Scholars are: Conrad Cascadden, Hampstead, NH; Rebecca Cotterell, Yardley, PA; Lauren Crisera, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Anthony Galideri, Clark Summit, PA; Jennifer Gibson, Londonderry, NH; Ashley Hulse, Moultonborough, NH; Crystal Maldonado, Londonderry, NH; Justin Maleson, Reisterstown, MD; Sabin Maxwell, Colebrook, NH; Cynthia Mousseau, Plattsburg, NY; Milan Patel, Parsippany, NJ; Melinda Siranian, Wilmot, NH; and Joshua Wyatt, Hope Mills, NC.

Praised by members of the Carnegie Institute's new legal education initiative on the future of law school curricula, the Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program provides students with a "better bar exam." It requires students to take a rigorous curriculum of simulations, clinical work and externships. Webster Scholars write reflective papers regarding their developing professional skills and judgment, receive constant peer feedback, and compile a portfolio of work. Four times during their second and third years, students are required to demonstrate their ability to practice law by submitting their portfolios to the bar examiners, who also orally examine the students during their last semester.

The next class of Webster Scholars will graduate in 2009.